^Once in a while I pick up some old Country\Rockabilly compilations because I know very little about the genre and I love that vintage country sound. New country sucks… all of it. (well, saying most of it would be more fair, but as far as I’m concerned, modern country isn’t country at all it’s just crap radio pop with a faked southern accent) Hell, I could be a modern country music star right now if I changed my accent and sang about my pickup it would become a genuine CMT chart buster. There is nothing authentic or good about today’s country music.
But anyways, this stuff is nothing like any of that. This stuff is the really good old stuff with the real twang via steel guitar. The singers are actually from the South. I love this entire comp, there’s practically nothing on this that isn’t good and for me it’s also educational. Now I can seek out some of those artist’s names that before this I knew nothing of.
^Cheap Latin comp I bought for the cover songs. In particular “Light My Fire” but most importantly “California Dreamin’”. Jose has such a great voice and the way he plays the Spanish guitar is legendary but in California Dreaming he drops a perfect 10/10. I love how the song starts in English and ends in a Spanish vocal.
Don Gardner Trio Featuring Jimmy Smith And Wilson Lewes Quartet – Jimmy Smith LP (Guest Star) 1964
^Man! What a killer old school instrumental soul album. Besides being graced with some funky Hammond riffs the drum break guru Bernard Purdie and Alto Sax player Rusty Bryant bring their own funky solos. There’s at least 10 useable breaks on this killer jazz album.
Tupper Saussy - Said I to Shostakovich LP (Monument) 1965
^I mistakenly filed this away in my Classical music when I inherited a shit ton of great Classical music from my Dad’s deceased friend. It looks classical, and I never gave it the needle drop so I slid it next to a lot of other yet to be loved records. Actually, it looks pimp as all hell! Admit it, the man is snazzy dresser.
Anyways, this is NOT classical at all, it’s straight up free jazz piano. It’s uber advanced and free flowing. I guess slept on a very special record. Oh well, nevermore.
Congos – Heart of the Congos LP (Simply Vinyl) 1996 RE of 1977 OG
^This is the first reggae album I ever owned. A great gift from my little brother that sparked my collection of reggae records. Such a classic, yet when I got this I was the ultimate reggae newb completely unaware of the good stuff. Back then all I knew was Bob Marley. I heard of other artists but I was like a lot of college stoners with reggae blinders on. This truly opened up the door of my love for roots and dub. And for that I owe my lil bro for sparking new pathways.
This 2LP reissue is very heavy and nicely pressed up by Simply Vinyl. It has an extra disc of versions that weren’t on the original LP. Well worth seeking this version if you love the echo chamber and want the fat platters.
Dave & Ansell Collins – Double Barrel LP (Trojan) 1971
^Another classic reggae joint, this one is rocksteady. Steady rockin all night long.
^“I am the Magnificent!”
NOFX – Punk in Drublic LP (Epitaph) 2014 RE of 1994 OG
^Great trade record with JB. He hooked me up with a classic Punk\Ska record that I needed but didn't know it. A really nice heavy sounding reissue. The drumming on this punk album is on point.
Minor Threat – Minor Threat LP (Dischord Records) 2014 RE of 1984 OG
^Another JB trade, this is my fav of the batch. This one is nicely remastered at 45 so it’s much better sounding than an earlier pressing of this I got days earlier. Oh well, it’s dope as fuck, I don’t mind having a better pressing of the same album when it’s this good.
Random Conflict – Tradition is the Enemy LP (No Profit Records) 2013
^Hardcore punk, almost metal at times but nice and heavy. A good intro to a southern band I knew nothing of before this trade landed. I love this stuff.
Various - Four Old Seven Inches On A Twelve Inch EP (Dischord Records) 1984
^Hardcore comp of a bunch of classic Dischord sevens. This one I thought would be a monster, it’s kinda ehh. I been listening to so much punk lately that I might be getting a little too finicky. I’m sure it’s fine after a repeat listen.
Various – There's A Dyke In The Pit EP (Outpunk) 1992
^Last and most importantly is Opeth. This is an absolutely epic death metal journey and probably the best RSD release this year. Starts off acoustic and abruptly goes into sick guitar madness and back again. Like a lot of early Black Sabbath albums this hops from style to style and back again all within a single song. This one is a dark masterpiece and I’m genuinely thrilled to finally have an Opeth album on wax. The songwriting is spectacular, at times even catchy other times it’s brute force music. File under drastic transition laced death metal.
I actually just listened to that Lauryn Hill record all the way through today. JB, can you confirm that that pressing is quiet as hell? Every time I play that record I forget how loud I have to crank it up. I'm pretty sure I have a US OG as well (I think this only got one reissue unless there's some boots out there).
Also, JB, what do you think of the Kelis album? I was looking out for that actually and heard an interview with her on NPR last week. I reached out to her people for an interview and they shot me down quickfast lol.
I was also just watching videos of Jose Feliciano on Youtube yesterday. I don't have any of his records but will look out if I'm ever digging and it's cheap.
Surely this must be one of the greatest things of all time.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2014 04:12AM by vamosarapiar.
Yea Vamo , The Lauryn Hill joint is quiet , but is the Fugees stuff I have too . Actually it seems like a lot of stuff I have from that era is recorded low . As for the Kelis album , I think it's great .
Damn Rhecka , a lot of good stuff there !! Glad You liked the punk stuff . I wish I knew you had already picked up the minor threat . Two copies of a great record never hurt anybody though ..
Quote jaybrown
Glad You liked the punk stuff . I wish I knew you had already picked up the minor threat . Two copies of a great record never hurt anybody though ..
Yeah, I guess great minds think alike man, because I bought the green copy of that locally like 3 days before your package arrived. I didn't even realize it was the same album till I dropped a needle on it and realized they were the same just different colored records and covers.
^This version was cheap and it sounds like crap in comparison to the 45 rpm remaster one you sent me so it's no loss.
RE Lauryn Hill, I have the same original 2LP of that album that Jay Brown has and I never noticed it being particularly quiet. I don't think it was ever reissued either, which is why the original fetches such a high price in good condition. It's highly sought after and all sellers know it usually flips quickly. I think I spent 80 bucks on the 2 copies I bought for JB and myself and they were in EX condition. Finding that record sealed is like a 50$ record all day.
It's one of those records that make me bust out the nice anti-static mobile fidelity plastic inner sleeves for and put them in that instead of those highly damaging printed inner sleeves which leave long visible paper scratches every time you remove the disc. Those printed inner sleeves look cool but they split easy and are frankly flimsy and a horrible design for wear and tear on records. I figure if it's that good of a record I'll baby it since it'll be such an expensive record to replace.
@Kepler ^^ That Four Thoughts 45 is great. Thanx for the heads up on this.
@ Rchecka, That Congos album is fantastic I can't believe I still haven't picked it up. I've seen some sort of deluxe reissue around, might get that one.
I recently realized I like listening to music in languages I don't understand. It's somehow easier to listen to the music and vocal melodies if you can't make out any words. So since I haven't listened to any rock or punk or anything even rock influenced in a while I had to dig out some joints like these:
Haydamaky - Marusya
Ukranian band who has a very diverse sound but mostly mixing folk and rock.
Steady rockin all night long.
